Sean B. Carroll

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Dr. Sean B. Carroll 2022

Sean B. Carroll is an American evolutionary biologist, author, and science communicator. He is known for his work in the field of evo-devo (evolutionary developmental biology) and for his efforts to popularize science through his books and media appearances.

Early Life and Education

Sean B. Carroll was born on September 17, 1960, in Toledo, Ohio. He developed an early interest in biology and pursued his undergraduate studies at Washington University in St. Louis, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in biology in 1980. He then went on to earn a Ph.D. in immunology from Tufts University in 1983.

Career

After completing his Ph.D., Carroll conducted postdoctoral research at the University of Colorado Boulder under the mentorship of Matthew P. Scott. He later joined the faculty at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where he became a professor of molecular biology and genetics.

Carroll's research has focused on the genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying the evolution of animal form. He has made significant contributions to the understanding of how changes in gene regulation can lead to the development of new physical traits in organisms.

Contributions to Science

Sean B. Carroll is a pioneer in the field of evo-devo, which explores the relationship between the development of an organism (ontogeny) and its evolutionary history (phylogeny). His work has shed light on the role of regulatory genes in the evolution of animal diversity.

One of Carroll's notable discoveries is the role of Hox genes in the development of body plans in animals. He has also studied the genetic basis of morphological changes in butterflies and other organisms.

Science Communication

In addition to his research, Carroll is a prolific author and science communicator. He has written several popular science books, including:

• Endless Forms Most Beautiful: The New Science of Evo Devo and the Making of the Animal Kingdom
• The Making of the Fittest: DNA and the Ultimate Forensic Record of Evolution
• Remarkable Creatures: Epic Adventures in the Search for the Origins of Species
• Brave Genius: A Scientist, a Philosopher, and Their Daring Adventures from the French Resistance to the Nobel Prize

Carroll has also contributed to various documentary films and television programs, helping to bring the wonders of evolutionary biology to a broader audience.

Awards and Honors

Sean B. Carroll has received numerous awards for his contributions to science and science communication, including:

• The Benjamin Franklin Medal in Life Science
• The Stephen Jay Gould Prize from the Society for the Study of Evolution
• The Lewis Thomas Prize for Writing about Science

Personal Life

Carroll resides in Madison, Wisconsin, with his family. He continues to be active in both research and science communication, inspiring new generations of scientists and science enthusiasts.

Selected Publications

• Carroll, S. B. (2005). Endless Forms Most Beautiful: The New Science of Evo Devo and the Making of the Animal Kingdom. W. W. Norton & Company.
• Carroll, S. B. (2006). The Making of the Fittest: DNA and the Ultimate Forensic Record of Evolution. W. W. Norton & Company.
• Carroll, S. B. (2009). Remarkable Creatures: Epic Adventures in the Search for the Origins of Species. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
• Carroll, S. B. (2013). Brave Genius: A Scientist, a Philosopher, and Their Daring Adventures from the French Resistance to the Nobel Prize. Crown Publishing Group.

See Also

• Evo-devo
• Hox genes
• Gene regulation
• Evolutionary biology
• Science communication